Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury are each expected to pocket around £100 million for their long-anticipated heavyweight clash, with the blockbuster bout projected to become the biggest event in British boxing history.The contest, expected to take place in the Middle East in the fourth quarter of 2026, was confirmed on Monday by Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh, with both fighters set to share the purse equally.
The announcement finally clears the way for a showdown that has faced several setbacks over the years, most notably in 2021 when a proposed two-fight agreement collapsed following legal action involving Deontay Wilder. Although many believe the bout would have carried greater significance five years ago when both fighters were world champions and at their physical peak, it remains one of the most commercially significant fights in boxing.
Despite both men having lost their world titles and entering the latter stages of their careers, the matchup continues to command global attention. Fury, now 37, recently ended a 16-month retirement with a points victory over Russian heavyweight Arslanbek Makhmudov at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, a comeback widely viewed as preparation for the long-awaited clash with Joshua.
The former heavyweight champion had previously stepped away from the sport after building a remarkable career and substantial fortune, but the opportunity to finally face Joshua appears to have drawn him back.For Joshua, the fight represents a major opportunity to cap his career with one final marquee event, coming shortly after his lucrative knockout win over YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul.
The former unified heavyweight champion has also endured personal challenges in recent months, including the loss of two close friends and members of his team in a fatal car accident in Nigeria last December. Before facing Fury, Joshua is expected to take on Albanian fighter Kristian Prenga in Riyadh on July 25 in what is seen as a low-risk tune-up contest designed to sharpen him for the main event.
Betting markets currently place Fury as the slight favourite, while Joshua enters as the underdog ahead of a high-stakes contest that carries significant risks for both men. Joshua’s vulnerabilities were exposed in his knockout loss to Daniel Dubois at Wembley in September 2024, while Fury has dropped two of his last three outings against Oleksandr Usyk.
Source: https://guardian.ng/
